I love this time of year! The National Toy Hall of Fame has announced the nominees for the 2023 Class of inductees. The National Toy Hall of Fame is organized by the staff at the Strong Museum of Play in Rochester, New York.
This is a great time of year because we’re reminded of all the fun stuff we got to play with as a kid. As you look at the list you may say to yourself, “I remember that!” or “I can’t believe that toy isn’t in the Hall of Fame yet!”
In case you missed last year’s winners, the winners were: Lite-Brite, Masters of the Universe and the Top (the toy you spin). Two of this year’s nominees were also nominated last year but they didn’t make the cut.
Unlike the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame there’s very little hand-wringing over who gets nominated, who gets in or who doesn’t want to be in. It’s toys! We’re all good!
Only three of the toys listed below will get the nod this year. The fun part is that YOU can vote on it but going to the Strong Museum of Play website. The winners will be announced on November 9th. Fan votes will be accepted this week!
Just being a nominee for the Toy Hall of Fame is an honor, but being enshrined in such a place – well – that’s a true distinction! So get in there and vote, Rat Rock Nation! The toys are depending on you!
Baseball Cards
Remember how awesome it was to get a card that you actually wanted in the pack? Each pack of baseball cards was like a Russian Roulette of fun! And remember how awful and wonderful that stick of gum was?! And somehow one of these always ended up in my bicycle tires, LOL! Baseball cards are big business these days if you happened to get a player that actually did something with their career, but it’s the memories of these that gets my vote in the Toy Hall of Fame.
NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 21: A man sells vintage baseball cards prior to the start of the last game at Yankee Stadium between the Baltimore Orioles and the New York Yankees on September 21, 2008 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. Yankee Stadium held it’s inaugural game on April 18, 1923 against the Boston Red Sox and tonight’s match will be the final game to be played at the historic stadium. During it’s 85 years as ”The Home of Champions,” the stadium has also been known as ”The House that Ruth Built” and ”The Cathedral.” The stadium has been host to 33 World Series, three Papal visits and has been visited by legends such as Babe Ruth, Joe DiMaggio, Yogi Bera, Mickey Mantle and boxing great Muhummad Ali. In 2009 the Yankees will move across the street to a newly constructed stadium estimated to cost $1.3 billion. (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images)
Odds of getting in this year: 6 out of 10.
Battleship
“You sunk my battleship!” was the classic slogan from the commercials during Saturday morning cartoons; everyone remembers that! This game was so good that they came out with an electronic version of Battleship. I remember enjoying that but nothing beats the original with the white and red pegs. This was one of the first games that I remember coming in travel size! Battleship is fun because it teaches the concept of honesty while playing a game.
Battleship has been nominated for the Toy Hall of Fame.
Odds of getting in this year: 4 out of 10.
Bingo
This game gets bigger and bigger as America gets older and shows up at churches and Knights of Columbus for Bingo night. A more heated evening of gaming could hardly be imagined. But did you know that Bingo dates back to the 1500’s in Italy? Can you imagine the penalty for jumping the gun back then?! Get the guillotine! These days there’s even online Bingo which supposedly offers cash prizes too. This thing started as a fun game to play at home but it’s a serious money-making monster now.
LOS ANGELES – FEBRUARY 16: Actress Maggie Grace calls the bingo game at the “Painted Turtle Camp” Bingo Benefit at The Roxy Theatre on February 16, 2005 in Los Angeles, California. The event featured a Celebrity Bingo Game and Auction to benefit the “Painted Turtle Camp” for children.
Odds of getting in: 3 in 10.
